Griffiths: restrain, Anad attack shouldn't affect Hodeida truce

UN envoy to Yemen stated on Friday that the ceasefire deal inked between Yemeni warring parties was related only to military operations in Hodeida City, but not to all confrontations across the country.

The drone attack on podium in Anad Airbase should not affect Stockholm Agreement between Yemeni rivals, Martin Griffiths said at interview aired by the RT channel on Friday.

Early on Thursday, Houthis attacked military parade in al-Anad Military Base in the southern governorate of Lahj with a bomb-laden drone, leaving six Yemeni troops killed and others, including leaders, injured.

Among the wounded were Chief of Staff Abdullah al-Nakhie, his deputy Saleh al-Zyndani, head of intelligence Mohammed Saleh Tamah, Lahj Governor General Ahmed al-Turki and spokesman for Fourth Military Region Mohammed al-Naqeeb.

Houthi drone exploded near the parade's main podium hosting senior military leaders, and casualties were taken to hospitals in Aden and Lahj cities.

Houthi group immediately claimed the attack, with rebel spokesman, Yahiya Abu Sare'i threatening legitimate government and Saudi-led coalition forces of more violent attacks in the future.

Griffiths, who started on Thursday a visit to Russia, reiterated that solution in Yemen could be reached only through understanding between Yemeni parties, without foreign intervention, noting that the limited number of international monitors had been sent particularly to oversee Hodeida truce but not military acts all around Yemen.

Following violence in Anad Base, the UN envoy on Thursday urged warring parties to exercise restraint and refrain from further escalation.

On his Tweeter page, Griffiths expressed alarm over an escalation of violence witnessed in Yemen.

He called upon all parties to help create climate favorable to maintaining the positive momentum stemmed from Sweden talks and peace process resumed in Yemen.

The UN envoy fears that the recent strike on Anad would lead to military escalation affecting UN efforts to help apply Stockholm Agreement inked by Yemeni official government and Houthi rebels at UN-sponsored peace talks last December.

Parties to the nearly 4-year war in Yemen, after 8 days of peace talks in Sweden, reached on 13 December an agreement providing for ceasefire in Hodeida and redeployment of both sides' forces and allowing for UN leading role in the port city.

The pact was followed by UNSC Resolution 2451 authorizing UN Secretary-General to deploy monitors to oversee implementation.

They also agreed to swap 15,000 prisoners, while other thorny issues were put off for next negotiations expected to be held late next January.

The Agreement is facing many challenges and difficulties to implement on ground, as both sides failing to honor their commitments.

Yemen has been racked by an armed conflict that broke out after the Iran-backed Houthis had ousted the internationally recognized government late in 2014.

The conflict escalated after a Saudi-led coalition intervened militarily in the country in March 2015 to reinstate the government of President Hadi, leaving tens of thousands killed, hundreds of thousands injured, and 3 million displaced.

The war has pushed the country to the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the UN, with more than two thirds of the 28-million population in need for a type of humanitarian aid and immediate protection, including 8.4 million people unsure how to get next meal, and some 2 million children suffering severe shortage of nutrition.